John a



J. 11. FAIRBANKS.

BIRIDLE BIT.

. No. 251,424. Patented Dec. 27,1881.

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N1 PTER5 Photo-Lithography. \Vashi nnnnnn 4 c UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN A. FAIRBANKS, OF CAMBRIDGE, MASS, ASSIGNOR TO THE FAIRBANKS FLEXIBLE BIT MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF HARTFORD, CONN.

BRlDLE-BIT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 251,424, dated December 27, 1881,

Application filed February 16, 1880.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN A. FAIRBANKS, of Cambridge, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Bridle-Bit, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of bits of which the mouth-piece consistsvof a helical spring.

My invention consists in a bridle-bit composed of a coiled-wire mouth-piece and suitable cheek-pieces united to the mouth-piece by means of screw-cut shanks and solder, all of which will be fully hereinafter explained in detai The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a View of my invention complete. Fig. 2 shows a part of the mouth-piece and one of the end pieces which serves to fasten the cheek piece or ring to the mouth-piece.

Let A represent the month-piece. This is madeof coiled wire, as shown. The wire should be of sufficient size and hardness to resist all tendency to open or to receive a permanent set out of place, and yet to yield enough to give the mouth-piece a slight elasticity. This wire may be made of any suitable metal, and can be plated or covered, as desired. When a wire is coiled, as shown, the inner surface of the helix thus made becomes an inside screw, and I take advantage of this fact by making a corresponding screw on the shank of the end piece, as shown at B. To 'fasten the end piece B securely to the mouth-piece A, I coat either the screw B or the insideof the coil A with some soldering metal or compound. when both parts are hot enough to melt the solder the screw-cut shank B is screwed into the coil A and the whole is allowed to cool. This makes a firm and durable connection.

With this constructionthat is, by using for the mouth-piece a coiled spring of sufficient strength to hold the cheek-piece without the use of any appliance or device within thecoil of the spring-I get, under all circumstances, the full use of the elasticity of the spring.

I am aware that bridle-bits have been made with a spring coiled around the mouth-piece, and I do not claim that. My claim is based upon the use of the coiled wire as the entire mouth-piece, there being no other device for holding the cheek-pieces together, and in my method of uniting the said mouth-piece to the cheek-piece by means of the screw-cut shanks and solder, as hereinbefore described.

What I claim as my invention is- Abridle-bit composed ofacoiled-wire mouth- Then piece and suitable cheek-pieces united to the mouth-piece by means of screw-cut shanks and solder, substantially as set forth.

JOHN A. FAIRBANKS.

Witnesses OTIS S. NEALE, WILLIAM EnsoN. 

